Beam structure



- y 1965 D. A. BROWN ETAL 3 3,

BEAM STRUCTURE Filed May 18} 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. DONALD A. Beowu BY LUCIEN I2. DOWN/N6 J2.

ATTOENEYS.

July 6, 1965 D. A. BROWN ETAL 3,193,063

BEAM STRUCTURE Filed May 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. DONALD A. BROWN BY LUC/EN I2. DOWN/N6 J12.

ATTORNEYS 3,193,063 BEAM STRUCTURE Donald A. Brown, Westiake, and Lucien R. Downing, J12,

Sheifield Lake, Ohio, assignors to Donn Products Incorporated, Westlaire, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 18, 1962, Ser. No. 195,841 Claims. (Cl. 189-36) This invent-ion relates, as indicated, to an improved beam structure, and more particularly to the structure of an intersection of a main beam and a cross beam. This invention also relates to a system including such structural members for supporting a wall, floor or ceiling.

Recent years have seen changes in the manner of internal room decoration and furnishing in which emphasis has been laid upon suspended ceilings or ceiling sections. Most usually, such structures are composed of a metallic grid of beam members and panel members supported thereby, such as acoustic tile members, and with or without flush lighting fixtures. The improvements of the present invention have particular utility in connection with suspended ceiling grid structures, and therefore will be discussed wit-h particular reference thereto.

In Patent No. 2,903,104 there has been shown a form of intersecting structure characterized by a hook and notch configuration for the connector portion of the cross beam. The present invention is an improvement on such prior structure in respect of an improved coaction between the slot in the main beam and the configuration of the tongue or connector portion. Instead of two bearing points between the web of the main beam and the tongue of the cross beam, three are provided hereby. This results in an exceptionally stable juncture between the beams which at the same time prevents accidental disengagement of the cross beam from interlocking relationship with the main beam during assembly or installation of a grid.

The invent-ion will be better understood by having reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main beam and a pair of cross beams prior to interconnected assembly.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the elements of FIG. 1 coupled together to form a rigid juncture.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross section view taken substantially as indicated along the line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 44 in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are a series of vertical cross sectional views illustrating the sequence of movement for inserting the tongue of a cross beam through the coupling slot of the main beam.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a cross beam of the present invention taken on the line 77 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of another form of tongue configuration for a cross beam in accordance herewith.

FIG. 9 is an end view of the tongue shown in FIG. 8.

Briefly stated, the present invention is in the provision of across beam which is adapted to be disposed in intersecting interlocking transverse relationship with a main beam in a predetermined geometric configuration. The main beam includes a web having a slot therein of generally rectangular shape and characterized by lateral interlocking means on opposed marginal edges thereof. The cross beam is characterized by a web having a tongue formed at an extremity thereof which is adapted to be received in the slot and interlocked therein. On one marginal edge of the tongue there is provided a first shoulder which defines a notch, which notch is adapted to be hooked under and receive the web of the main beam United States Patent 0 therein. The opposite marginal edge of the tongue is provided with a compound shoulder including a land and a stop. The land is adapted to engage the main beam web and rest thereon. The first shoulder and the stop are so disposed with respect to each other as to contact opposite sides of the main beam web when the tongue is disposed in the slot, and the cross beam is in conformity With said predetermined geometric configuration. On one surface of the tongue, means are provided which coact with the lateral interlocking means on the slot to restrain disengagement of the cross beam from interlocking relationship with the main beam. Thus, three points of contact, one of which is an interlocking contact are provided for improved rigidity and stability of the juncture against accidental disassembly or disengagement during installation.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, there is provided a main beam, generally indicated at it} which is adapted to co-operate with a pair of cross beam members 12 and 14 to form a rigid interlocking juncture which is a part of a predetermined geometric configuration, e.g. a rectangular configuration or grid comprising a plurality of rectangles. Each of the beams 10, 12 and 14 is conveniently a one-piece sheet metal structure particularly folded and formed to define an upstanding web portion 15 extending between a top bead 16 and a bottom flange 17. The flange 17 extends outwardly from the plane of the web 15 substantially at right angles thereto and to opposite sides of the web 15 so as to provide supporting surfaces upon which acoustic tile panels, or the like, may be positioned. The terminal end of main beam 11) prov-ides coupling elements 18 for co-operative attachment either to the next of a successive series of main beams or to other mounted elements for rigidly supporting the main beam in a fixed and generally horizontal alignment.

The cross beams 12 and 14 are substantially identical for opposed coaction with each other and with the main beam 10.

Referring more particularly to cross beam 14, there is provided an upstanding web portion 19 extending between a top marginal edge 20, which may conveniently be a rolled over bead portion for improved rigidity, the opposed marginal edge 21 having a flange 22 formed thereat disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the Web 19, and extending to either side thereof. Cross beam 14 terminates in a tongue .poriton 23 which is laterally off-set relative to the plane of the web 19 by step portion 25.

The tongue 23 is of vertically smaller extent than the web 19 from a top marginal portion 27 to a bottom marginal portion 28 to provide an exposed end edge 30 of bottom flange 22. Tongue 2'3 and the adjacent web portion 31 of the cross beam 14 are provided with a continuous embossment 35. As seen in FIG. 1 of the drawing, the embossment 35 extends outwardly from the plane of the drawing. Conversely, the embossment 35' of cross beam 12, being an identical member in reverse or opposed relation, extends inwardly into the plan-e of the drawing of FIG. 1. This embossment provides a mechanical reinforcement for insuring rigid alignment of the tongue portion 23 in a laterally off-set plane parallel to the plane of the web 19. The embossments 35 and 35' each contain a recess 36 and 36', respectively adapted to coact with confronting lateral projections 40 and 41 of slot 42 in main beam web 15, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Slot 42 in web 15 of main beam 10 is also provided with a pair of vertically disposed confronting projections 43 and 44 which are adapted to guide tongues 23 and 23' in operative disposition so that recesses 36 and 36 are brought into coacting interlocking relationship with con 3 fronting projections 4t and 4-1, respectively. Arcuate shoulder 39 coacts with-projection 4% in the interlocking operation as hereinafter pointed out.

Oil-set portions 25 and 25 of cross beams14 and :12,

respectively, when the beams are ininterlocking relation- 1 tive locking. engagement with the slot 42.. I

When tongue 23, for example is seated in slot 42 (the process by which such seating is effected being shown in FIGS. 5 and 6), thefprojection 40 is forced up the inclined portion 38 of embossment $5 and seated in interlocking engagement with recess 36.

As best shown in FIGS; 5 and 6, the tongue portion 23 of the'cross beam 14, and likewise the tongue portion23' of the cross beam 12, is'formed at its upper and lower marginal edges with particular notch and shoulder portions. Shoulder 5i defines a notch 51 which is adapted to be hooked under web 15 in. the main beam 1th At the opposed marginal edge, a compound shoulder 52 com posed of a land 53 and a stop 54 so disposed in relation to shoulder 50 and notch 51 that when the'cross' beam.

is in the position shown in FIG. 6, i.e. the interlocked bination with confronting portion 40 secures the tongue 23 against movement in this'clirection. Because the recess in the preferred embodiment is characterized by sharp corners defining the shoulder 39 as shown most clearly 7 10 23 and 23 of the cross beams 12 and 14 are inco-operain FIG. 7, disengagement of the projecting portion 41 therefrornis eiiected with some difiiculty so that accidental bumping of the cross-beam 14 during installation 'will not cause disengagement of the'beam from the slot 42. When the cross beam 14 has been inserted in the manner shown in FIGS." 5 and .6, the opposite cross beam, if the geometric configuration calls for such, is

- inserted in like manner from the opposite side of slot 14.

When thus positioned, the two cross beamsco-operate with the main beam to effect a rigid juncture.v

FIG. 7 shows-an enlarged scale, the details of tongue portion 23' of crossbeam 12, and in. dotted lines the position, the land 53 is seated upon the edge of web 15-. 1

Also, the shoulder 5il is abutted against .the lefthand side of web' 15 as shown in FlG.. 6 and the stop 54 is abutted against the right-hand side ofweb 15 as shown in FIG. 6 -As indicated above, when the cross beam 14 is lowered as shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG; 6, theprojection 4t) rides up over the slope 38 of embossment and into interlocking engagement with recess 36. The space'between notch 51 and land 53 is determined. by the vertical dimension of the slot 42 in main beam 10.

Asindicated above, the web 15 of the main'beam is formed with a narrow vertical slot 42 of predetermined height and Widthrelative to the dimensions of the cross: beam tongue portions. The height'of the slot 42 is, as indicated above,.determined by the vertical'distance between the notch 51 and the land- 53, it being preferred that the fit between the slot, and the tongue in this region 7 The width of the slot42 is, as

relationship with the slot 42. Shoulder 39' defined by recess 36 is adapte'd'tocoact withprojection 41 during the arcuate movement of cross beam 12 as it is interlocked in the slot '42 and brought into conformity'with the desired predeterminedgeometric grid configuration.

. There has thus beenprovide'd, a cross beam which is adapted to be disposed inqintersecting interlocking transverse relationship with a main structural beam, said main structural beam having a generally rectangular slot having confronting projections, on opposed marginal edges thereof disposed in the web ofsaid main structural beam. The cross beam includes an elongated web portion having spaced parallel marginal edges and a tongue formed at an extremity thereof adapted to be received in the main beam slot in interlocking relationship. The tongue member is characterized by having a first shoulder defini'nga notch on one mar'ginaledge adaped to receive the Web of the main beam therein. On the opposed marginal edge there isprovided a compound shouldercharacterized by a land and astop, the land being adapted to engage the mainv beam web. The shoulder and stop are disposed relative to each other in such manner as to contact opposite sides. of the main beam When'the tongue is in interlocking disposition in theslot. In one face .or the tongue member, and preferably on an embossment on said face, there is provided'a recess which is adapted to coact with one of the lateral projections of the slot in the main beam tov restrain disengagement'of the cross beam from interlocking relationship with the. main beam. v.When the main beam and cross beam are combined in interlocking 1 relationship, there is, provided a member for coaction in bined widths of the tongue portions 23 and 23 and their embossments 35 and 35 plus the width of the confronting divider projections 43 and 44.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and d, which illustrate the manner of bringing the cross beams and main beams into intersecting, interlocking relationship, the tongue 23 of across beam 14 is inserted in the slot by inclining the cross beam 14 slightly relative to the generally horizon? tal main beam 10. Such inclination is in an upward direction so as to enable insertion of theshoulder 50 in advance of seating "the beam' on the land 53'. the downward motion indicated arrow at FIG. 5, the cross beam 14 is brought tofthe position shown in FIG; 6 where it assumes. its predetermined relation in the desired configuration with main beam 16 Thefwedging action of sloped portion 57. causes seating. of'the web 15 upon the land 53 and abutment againstsho'ulder 54;

Thus, shoulders 56 and'54 are disposed on opposite sides of the web 15 whereby horizontal motion axially across beam 14 is restrained. Simultaneously, with the downward movement of cross beam 14 as shown in FIG. 15,

confronting projection 40, or confronting projection [41,

i as the case may be, is moved across the slope portion 38' of embossment 35, and by its wedging action snapped into interlocking relationship with'recess 36. Movement With a a predetermined geometric configuration, such as a plurality'of rectangular elements adapted to receive and retainpanels such as acoustic tile panels to form .a surface, such as a suspended ceiling surface. Infthe usual installation, the. main beams are suspended from a superstructure by wires, and the cross beams interlocked thereafter in the manner aforesaid. When the grid structure of the predetermined geometric configuration has been completed,.the conforming panel members are'inserted therein; for completion of the wall surface;

FIGS, 8 and 9 show another form of tongue structure useful in accordance with the present invention. It is essentially'the same as the structure shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 ditiering therefrom inhaving a projection intercepting. bow 60 struck in the leading edge 61 thereof.

' ,Bow fitlis adapted to intercept the projection 40 (or of the tongue axially of main beam, is prevented by coninFIGf4.

41 depending on the side of beam 10, cross-beam 14 is to intersect) and prevent insertion of cross-beam 14 on that side of dividing projections 43and 44 of FIG.

'4, for example, In such case, the interlocking recess into coactinginterlocking engagement with projection 41 when approached from the rearside of beam 10 'as' shown Thus bow fitl'aids in locating cross-beam 14 in the proper position in slot 42 without permitting even partial entry into the improper side thereof.

Moreover, bow 60 will coact with the corresponding bow of a confronting intersecting cross beam to aid in preventing disengagement during assembly.

Other modes of applying the principle of this invention may be employed instead of those specifically set forth above, changes being made as regards the details herein disclosed provided the eiernents set forth in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such be employed. It is, therefore, particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as the invention:

1. In combination, a main structural beam member and a cross beam disposed in intersecting interlocking transverse relationship to each other in a predetermined geometric configuration, said main beam including a Web, a slot of generally rectangular shape in said Web, said slot including laterally inwardly projecting interlocking means on one pair of opposed marginal edges and tongue spacing means on the other of said opposed marginal edges, said cross beam including a web having a tongue formed at an extremity thereof disposed in said slot in interlocking relationship, said tongue having a first shoulder defining a notch on one marginal edge, said notch engaging the web of said main beam therein, said tongue having a compound shoulder on the opposite marginal edge in cluding a land and a stop, said land engaging and resting upon said main beam web, said first shoulder and said stop being so disposed as to contact opposite sides of said main beam Web when said tongue is disposed in said slot and said cross beam is in conformity with said geometric configuration, and means on one surface of said tongue coacting with said laterally inwardly projecting interlocking means on said slot to restrain disengagement of said cross beam from interlocking relationship with said main beam.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lateral interlocking means includes a pair of confronting projections on opposed marginal edges of said slot.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the means on said tongue include an embossment having a recess therein, said recess interlocked with at least one of said confronting projections.

4. In combination, a main structural beam member and a pair of cross beams disposed in intersecting interlocking transverse relationship to each other in a predetermined geometric configuration, said main beam including a web, a slot of generally rectangular shape in said web, said slot including laterally inwardly projecting interlocking means on one pair of opposed marginal edges, and slot divider means on the other pair of opposed marginal edges, each of said cross beams including a web havin a tongue formed at an extremity thereof disposed in said slot in interlocking relationship, said tongue having a first shoulder defining a notch on one marginal edge, said notch engaging the web of said main beam, said tongue having a compound shoulder on the opposite marginal edge including a land and a stop, said land engaging and resting upon said main beam Web, said first shoulder and said stop being so disposed as to contact opposite sides of said main beam web when said tongue is disposed in said slot and said cross beam is in conformity with said geometric configuration, each of said tongues disposed in face-to-face relationship on opposite sides of said divider means in said slot, and means on each of the remaining surfaces of said tongues, respectively, coacting with said laterally inwardly projecting interlocking means On said slot to restrain disengagement of said cross beams from interlocking relationship with said main beam.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which the means for restraining disengagement of the cross beams includes an embossment on each of said tongues, said embossment having a recess therein for interlocking relationship With the latterally inwardly projecting interlocking means on the opposed marginal edges of said slot, respectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 56,246 9/29 Alterson 24-240 X 2,903,104 9/59 Brown 18936 RICHARD W. COOKE, JR, Primary Examiner. JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A MAIN STRUCTURAL BEAM MEMBER AND A CROSS BEAM DISPOSED IN INTERSECTING INTERLOCKING TRANSVERSE RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER IN A PREDETERMINED GEOMETRIC CONFIGURATION, SAID MAIN BEAM INCLUDING A WEB, A SLOT OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE IN SAID WEB, SAID SLOT INCLUDING LATERALLY INWARDLY PROJECTING INTERLOCKING MEANS ON ONE PAIR OF OPPOSED MARGINAL EDGES AND TONGUE SPACING MEANS ON THE OTHER OF SAID OPPOSED MARGINAL EDGES, SAID CROSS BEAM INCLUDING A WEB HAVING A TONGUE FORMED AT AN EXTREMITY THEREOF DISPOSED IN SAID SLOT IN INTERLOCKING RELATIONSHIP, SAID TONGUE HAVING A FIRST SHOULDER DEFINING A NOTCH ON ONE MARGINAL EDGE, SAID NOTCH ENGAGING THE WEB OF SAID MAIN BEAM THEREIN, SAID TONGUE HAVING A COMPOUND SHOULDER ON THE OPPOSITE MARGINAL EDGE INCLUDING A LAND AND A STOP, SAID LAND ENGAGING AND RESTING UPON SAID MAIN BEAM WEB, SAID FIRST SHOULDER AND SAID STOP BEING SO DISPOSED AS TO CONTACT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID MAIN BEAM WEB WHEN SAID TONGUE IS DISPOSED IN 